Rotary attached fastener for securing objects to panels



May 13, 1952 L. H. FLORA ET AL 2,596,332

ROTARY ATTACHED FASTENER FOR SECURING OBJECTS T0 PANELS Filed July 19,1948 2 SHEETS SHEET l $51 9 7 v INVENTORS (queen/ca A F2024 14rme4/Er y1952 H. FLORA ETAL 2,596,332

ROTARY ATTACHED FASTERER FOR SECURING OBJECTS TO PANELS Filed July 19,1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 54 6? 6/ f I I a P Patented May 13, 1952 ROTARYATTACHED FASTENER FOR SE- CURING OBJECTS T PANELS Laurence H. Flora andCharles A. Kelley, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Tinnerman Products,Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 19, 1948,Serial No. 39,484

2 Claims.

This invention relates in general to attachable types of fasteningdevices which are designed for ready attachment to an aperturedsupporting part to provide the same with means for securing acooperating part thereto or for securing another structure, object orarticle of manufacture to said supporting part. The invention isdirected, more particularly, to fasteners of this kind which comprise aclip type attaching means that is secured in an opening in a supportingpart by a turning or rotary motion.

A primary object of the invention is to provide various forms of suchfasteners in which the attaching means comprises an improved simplifiedconstruction that is particularly suited for easy and quick applicationto a relatively small, simple assembling slot in a supporting part andin a manner whereby the fastener is positively locked in appliedposition against possible displacement or loosening under the mostsevere conditions of vibration, shock, or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide various fasteners ofthis character having an improved attaching means that is designed forready application to locked position in a simple generally rectangularassembling opening in a supporting part and covers and closes theassembling opening against the passage of dust, moisture and otherforeign matter.

Another object of the invention is to provide various fasteners of thekind described in which the improved attaching means includes apronounced locking element adapted to lock the fastener positively inattached position against reverse turning, shifting or displacement.

Further objects and advantages and new and useful features in theconstruction, arrangement and general combination of parts of thevarious forms of the invention will be apparent as the followingdescription proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, forpurposes of illustration but not of limitation, in which like referencecharacters designate like parts throughout, and in which: i

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fastener for mounting a molding or thelike showing the fastener from the underside thereof as prepared withattaching means in accordance with the invention and in position to beattached in an assembling opening in a supporting part, represented insection;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the molding fastener of Fig. 1 asinitially applied in the assembling opening in the supporting part;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the fastener as rotated to fullyattached position in the assembling opening in the supporting part;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 3 showing the attaching elements ofthe fastener in final position in the assembling opening in thesupporting part;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of Fig. 3 along line ii-5, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a completed installation of a molding asmounted by the fastener attached to the supporting part as shown inFigs. 3 to 5 inclusive.

Fig. 7 illustrates another molding installation embodying a modifiedform of fastener provided with attaching means similar to the fastenerof Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

Fig. 8 shows another form of the invention in which the fastenercomprises attaching means similar to the fastener of Figs. 1 to 6inclusive and serves to retain a wire, cable, tube, rod, or otherarticle of manufacture.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a further embodiment of theinvention in which. the fastener is provided with attaching meanssimilar to the fastener of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive in a form of nutholder which includes means for providing a thread locking action on thebolt applied to the nut; and,

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing another fastener in accordance withthe invention as provided in the form of a nut holder which is attachedin the same opening through which the bolt is applied to the nut;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 11 showing the attaching means ofthe nut holder as provided in association with a passage for the bolt tobe applied to the nut.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view showing another fastener in the form of amultiple nut device as attached to a supporting part, parts of thefastener being broken away to illustrate the construction of the threadengaging portions of the fastener; and

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of Fig. 14.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1-6 inclusive of the drawings,it will be understood that the molding installation illustrated in Fig.6 is one of the general character in which a trim strip, beading, or thelike finishing object may be mounted onto a supporting part by anoperation taking place entirely from the forward or readily accessibleside thereof. The invention, therefore, is particularly suited for usein installations involving a blind location in which the rearward sideof the supporting structure is not conveniently or readily accessiblefor attaching a retainer used in the mounting of a molding or otherobject onto the supporting structure.

The retainers are provided in the manner of substantial clip. devicescomprising an attaching means and article holding means, the attachingmeans of the retainer being adapted to be easily and quickly applied tosubstantially locked fastening position on the supporting structure fromthe forward side thereof, whereupon the molding or other object may thenbe applied to the holding means of the retainer in fully mountedposition on the supporting structure by an op eration likewise takingplace from the forward side thereof. Thus there is no necessity foraccess to the rearward side of the supporting struc ture as inarrangements in which the retainers are attached by bolt and nutfastenings required,

to be secured together from both sides" of 'the supporting structure. i

The fastener or retainer 59 is constructed most economically from asuitable blank of sheet metal best provided in the manner of a simple,rectangular section severed from standard strip stock with minimum lossor wasteof material. Any suitable sheet metal maybe employed such asspring steel or cold rolled steel having'spring characteristics. Theapproximate mid-portion of the blank defines the fastener base H and oneither side thereof, there are provided upwardly bent arms 12 having camshoulders it on the ends thereof onto which the side flanges of themolding or other finishing object are adapted to be sprung to mountedposition on the'supporti'ng' The supporting.

structure, as shown in Fig. 6. structure, designated generallyP, may beof any suitable material such as sheet metal, wood, fiber board, or thelike; however, inasmuch as the instant invention is employed mainly inmetallic structures, the supporting structure is. usually in the form ofa metallic panel or plate-like element. 1 As best .seen in or retainer[0, there is provided an assembling opening in the form of a simplerectangular slot l. A suitable number of such openings are'prepared for,the required retainers to be used; the

same being provided in predetermined spaced're lation on the supportingstructure along the'path which the molding or other finishing object tobe'v mounted by the fasteners extends in mounted position. In this formof the invention, the assembling openings I are elongated and arrangedwith their major dimensions extending transversely of the molding to beapplied thereto.

The body of the retainer includes an attaching portion designed to holdthe same in selfsustained position on the supporting structurepreparatory to the application of the molding or other part thereto inmounting such part on' the supporting structure entirely from theforward;

ments'comprise a pair of similar cooperating cam hookssl5, havingV-shaped extremities whichare.

struck and formed from the fastener base ii to Fig. 1, in order to adaptthe supporting structure P for use with a fastener project outwardly outof the plane of the underside thereof in generally parallel and spacedrelation thereto. The cam hooks 15, are arranged in diagonal or offsetrelation to each other such that their \i-shaped extremities define agenerally rectangular area corresponding substantially to the contour ofthe generally rectangular assembling opening in the support so as to bereadily received therein when the fastener is initially applied as shownin Fig. 2.

The cam hooks it are spaced from the fastener base H a distance slightlyless than the thickness of the panel P and at their junctions to thefastenerbase define abutments l5 spaced apart a distance approximatingthe width of the assembling slot l. The leading ends of the cam hooks 55preferably are bent to define outwardly flared lips I? which facilitatethe initial engagement of the cam hooks with the marginal portions ofthe assembling opening when the fastener is initially applied. The camhooks i5 otherwise are so arranged on the fastener body that thefastener, when rotated to final position; extends generally transverselyto the length of the molding in a manner whereby the molding may bereadily attached onto the shoulders E3 on the arms thereof.

A locking detent l3 preferablyis provided'in association with either orboth of the cam hooks I5. The locking detent comprises a suitable lugelementwhich is partially severed'from the fastener base so that thefree end defines a pronounced abutment which is spaced from the abutmentit of the associated cam hook a distance approximating the width of theassembling opening iv so as to engage the wall of the assembling openingto lock the fastener in'attached position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

With the fastener iii thus provided and the supporting structureprepared with the required assembling openings in the form of'thegenerally rectangular slots l along'the path of the moldi g in mountedposition, the fasteners Ii] are easily and quickly attachedsimply byinserting the cam. hooks iii of a fastener into the complementarilyshaped assembling opening I, and

turning or rotating the fastener clockwise fortyfive degree'sin thedirection of the arrow, Fig. 2. This is accomplished by pushing'the endof the fastener body opposite the cam hooks ifiinthe manner of a leveruntilthe fastener is disposed in fully attached position shownj'in. Fig;3. The; outwardly fiaredflips H on the extremitiesof the f cam hookslfifacilitate theinitial engagement of the cam hookswith the marginalportions .of the assembling opening l, and'as ,the fastenerfis rotated,said cam hooks havea pronounced cam-:-

ming; gripp'ingaction withrthe engaged marginal portions of theassembling opening while" the locking detent is yields against thesupport as necessary to permit such turning of the fastener,

In the fully attached position of'the fastener.. Figs. 3,}i and 5, theabutments, it on the can hooks engage the side walls'ofitheassembling"opening in cooperation with thalocking detent H) which is received inthe assemblingopening with its free end in abuttingengageinent with theadjacent wall of the assembling'opening." The abutments i6 and lockingdetent iiithus nain tain the fastener in final attached position;against rotation in either direction inasmuch as the abutments lepreventfurther turning in the a direction of application of thefastenerwhilethe locking detent i8 snaps into abutting engagement withthe adjacent side wall of the ass'einbling slot to prevent any reverseturning of the fastener toward loosening or removal of the cam hooks l5from final position in the assembling opening. In addition, thearrangement is such that the fastener is also retained in attachedposition against displacement lengthwise of the assembling slot by thedisposition of the outer edge a of the looking detent l8, Figs. 3 and 4,adjacent one end wall of the assembling slot I while the outer edge b ofthe opposite cam hook I5 is disposed adjacent the other end wall so thatthese elements serve as projections in abutting relation to the oppositeend walls of the assembling slot for preventing shifting or sliding ofthe fastener in either direction lengthwise of said assembling slot.This arrangement in a rotary fastener for both locking the fastener inattached position against reverse rotation and for preventing shiftingof the fastener lengthwise of the assembling slot is most important inthat the fastener is secured in a fixed, rigid and positively lockedattachment which is adapted to resist displacement in any directionunder the most severe conditions of vibration, shock and the like.

By virtue of the specific formation of the cam hooks [5 incomplementarily shaped relation to the rectangular assembling opening 3,said assembling opening may be most advantageously provided in arelatively small size, and which, in the final assembly of the fastener,not only is covered by the fastener base H but is tightly closed in theregions of said cam hooks so as to prevent the passage of water and dusttherethrough. The instant fastener, therefore, is

particularly beneficial in that it substantially seals the opening inwhich the fastener is attached in a completed assembly so as to preventthe entrance of any objectionable foreign matter to the interior of theassembly.

A suitable number of retainers or fasteners it are secured to thesupport P as shown in Figs. 3 and 6 along the path which the molding Mextends in mounted position. The molding M may be of any selected crosssection and is usually in the form of a channel-shape or heading whichincludes inturned flanges 21, 22 adapted to be sprung onto the fastenersit by snap fastening action with the shoulders it on the arms I2thereof. The arrangement is such that when the molding is placed overthe fasteners it and pressure exerted on the crown thereof, the edges ofthe flanges 2!, 22 flex outwardly against the ends of the arms l2 asnecessary for said flange edges to snap over and seat on the shouldersis.

Big. 7 shows an alternate molding construction in which the rotaryfastener 25 is constructed similarly to the fastener described withreference to Figs. 1-6 inclusive to include attaching means in the formof cam hooks i5 and the locking detent l8. The means for mounting themolding M, however, comprise spring arms 2% formed from end portions ofthe fastener base II and designed for snap fastening action with theinturned flanges 2? on the molding. The said spring arms 26, extendlongitudinally of the inturned flanges 21, and accordingly, when themolding is placed thereon and pressed downwardly, said spring arms 2%are caused to flex gradually inwardly toward each other until theflanges 2'! of the molding pass over and firmly and rigidly engage theshoulders defined by said spring arms. This assembly otherwise ispreferably provided for in the manner of a substantial snap fasteningengagement by which the molding or other trim material is easily andquickly secured to the retainers in fully mounted position on thesupporting structure in a minimum of time and effort.

Fig. 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention comprising afastener 30 in the form of a clip for mounting a rod, tube, cable orother article of manufacture. The fastener includes a base 3| from whichare stamped the cam hooks I5 and the locking detent I8 for attachment inan assembling opening I in the support similarly to the fastener ofFigs. 1-6 inclusive. The fastener includes an extension on either end ofthe fastener base 3i which is bent in the form of a spring arm 33 toaccommodate the article to be mounted such as, for example, the wire W,as shown. Preferably, the spring arm 33 is provided with an outwardlyflared extremity 3d which is adapted to facilitate the outward flexingof said spring arm as necessary to pass the wire W or other article tobe secured by said spring arm.

Figs. 9 and 10 show the invention in the form of a nut holder comprisinga fastener H3 provided with attaching means which are similar inconstruction and application to the attaching means described withreference to the fastener of Figs. 1-45 inclusive. The nut holder lilcomprises a base il provided with the similar struck out cam hooks l5and the locking detent l 8 together with upstanding side arms 43defining spaced side walls engaging opposite faces of a nut N. The nut Noverlies a bolt passage in the fastener base and is arranged to bealigned with a bolt opening 2 in the panel P upon rotation of the nutholder to attached position. An extension on the fastener base is bentto define an end wall 44 and a spring arm :35 overlying the top of thenut which is formed with a shoulder 46 and an outwardly flared lip d!that facilitates assembly of the nut under said spring arm. Preferablythe spring arm 45 is provided with integral thread engaging means in theform of cooperating resilient tongues "2-8 or the like adapted toprovide a thread locking action on the bolt is threaded into the nut.The nut N, accordingly, is retained in assembled relation with the nutholder against relative rotation by the side walls 33 engaging a pair ofopposing faces of the nut in cooperationwith the end wall 4 1 andshoulder :16 engaging another pair of opposing faces thereof while thespring arm 45 engages the top of the nut.

The nut may be assembled with the nut holder 38 either prior to or afterthe nut holder is attached to the support P by rotation of the cam hooksiii in the assembling opening 5, as in the previously described forms ofthe invention. Such rotation of the fastener to attached positiondisposes the nut carrying portion of the nut holder in aligned relationwith the bolt passage 2 in the support in final position to receive thebolt 49 for securing a part B to the support P in a completedinstallation.

Figs. 11-13 inclusive illustrate another design of the fastener in theform of a'nut holder for attaching a nut N over the assembling opening Iin the supporting panel P in an arrangement whereby said assemblingopening serves also as the passage or the bolt to be applied to the nutN. The fastener 5E3 comprises a base 5| having a bolt passage 52 and thecam hooks l5 provided on opposite sides of said bolt passage togetherwith a locking detent l8 for attaching the fastener in the assemblingopening I similarly to the fastener described with reference to Figs.1-6 inclusive. On the fastener base 5! thus provided, end portions arebent upwardly to define a pair of cooperating spring arms 53 forengaging opposing faces of the nut N. Preferably said spring arms aredesigned for snap fastening engagement with the nut and, to this end,the extremities thereof are bent into the form of inwardly extendingshoulder 5d terminating in outwardly flared lips 55 which facilitateapplication of the nut between'said spring arms to assembled relationwith the nut holder. Engagement of the nut with the outwardly flaredlips 55 on the spring arms spreads the same as necessary top'ermit thenut'to be received therebetween with the shoulders 5d engaging the topof the nut to retain the same in assembled relation'with the nut holderwhile the spring arms 53 engage opposing faces of the nut to hold thesame-against relative rotation. The nut is assembled with the nutholdereither prior to or after the nut holder is'attached in theassembling opening I in the supportin panel P. In any case, the nut N asassembled with the nut holder has the threaded opening therein alignedwith the bolt passage 52 in the base of the nut holder and in alignmentwith the assembling opening 5, whereupon the bolt which is applied tothe nut is readily passed through these aligned openings into threadedengagement with the nut to secure the parts of an installation.

Figs. 14 and 15 show another embodiment of theinvention in which thefastener comprises a one-piece multiple nut device together with meansfor attaching the device in fastening position on the supporting part Pin the manner described with reference to the fastener of Figs. l -6inclusive. The fastener 85.! comprises, similarly, a base fiihaving sidearms 52 and attaching 'elements in the form of the cam hooks l5 and thelocking detent l8 stamped from said fastener base. On either side ofsaid attaching elements I5, there are provided on the fastener base tiintegral thread engaging means such as coopcrating tongues 8 forthreadedly engaging a bolt or screw in the manner of a nut. The threadportions Ed have a spacing corresponding to the spacing of bolt passages3 in the support and accordingly, are adapted to be aligned with saidbolt passages when the fastener is attached'in final position byrotation of the cam hooks 65 in the assembling opening I. The bolts t5thereuponmay be readily passed through the passages 3 into threadedengagement with the thread portions 64 on the fastener to secure a partC to the supporting part P in a completed installation.

:The fastener in any form preferably is constructed of relativelythinsheet metal, the thickness of which is selected according toservice-requirements and the predetermined size of the parts secured.The fasteners are most effective whenprovided of spring metal suitablyspring tempered and otherwise treated to give thede sired toughness andhardness, particularly in the case ofdevices which are used ininstallations where extreme vibratory motion takes place. '"A

8 cheap and highly effective fastener may'jbe pro vided from cold rolledmetal, such ascold-rolled steel, which is untempered but of :a springmetal nature and capable of providing an effectiveand reliable fasteningmeans.

While-the invention has been described in detail with specific examples,such examples are intended as illustrations only inasmuch as changes inthe construction and arrangement of the fasteners within the broad scopeof the .instant disclosure are fully contemplated.

What is claimed is.

1. A fastener comprising a sheet metal base having a pair of cooperatingattaching hooks provided from the material of said baseand .projectingfrom the underside of said base, said hooks extending in oppositedirections .in longitudinal'relation to each other and having spacedtransverse junctions with said base which are laterally offset andseparated by aitransv'erse space directly between said transversejunctions, a projection at the underside of said fastener base locatedsubstantially opposite the transverse junction of one of said nooks andtothe side of the other hook, and means carried by said fastener basefor engaging an'object to be fastened.

2..A fastener comprising a sheet metal base having a pair of cooperatingattaching hooks provided from the material of saidbase and'pro v jectingfrom the 'underside'of said base, said hooks extending in oppositedirections in'longitudinal relation to each other and'havingspac'edtransverse junctions with said base which are laterally offset andseparated by 'a transverse space directly between-said transversejunctions, a projection at the underside of said fastener base locatedsubstantially opposite the transverse junction of one of said hooks andto the side of the other hook, and'a pair of 'armsbent'upwardly fromsaid fastener'basasaid' arms having shoulders provided on the edges atthe ends of said arms for snap fasteningengagement with the flanges ofachannel-shapedobject such a's a molding, or the like.

' LAURENCE FLORA.

CHARLES A. KELLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

' UNIrEnsTATes PATENTS Number "Name "Date 890,285 Krantz June 9,19082,080,769 'Fitts s May 18, 1937 2,140,887 Tinnerman a -1- Dec. 20,19382,144,171 Van Uum Jan..17, 1939 2,168,721 Tinnerman Aug. 8, 19392,187,322 'Jones Jan. 16, I940 2,306,975 Fender Dec.29, 1942 2,318,840Del Camp. May 11, 1943 2,353,583 Place July' 11,1944 2,355,485Tinnerman.. 'Aug. 8. 1944

